Renowned French football icon Patrice Evra is venturing into a new realm. The former captain of Manchester United and the France national team has officially signed with PFL to mark his MMA debut at a PFL Europe event scheduled for May 23 at Paris’ Accor Arena. Evra is set to compete in a welterweight showcase match against an opponent yet to be disclosed.
Having trained alongside French MMA sensation and fellow PFL fighter Cédric Doumbé in preparation for the fight, Evra expressed his enthusiasm in a statement, “You guys should know by now, I love this game too. I’ve performed on the world’s biggest stages, won every major trophy in football, but PFL Europe Paris will be an incredibly special night for me. I’ve been training alongside the best in the world for years, and they’ll also tell you I’m ready for this. I’m going to put on a show at the Accor Arena on May 23, so come watch the spectacle.”
At 43 years old, Evra is hailed as one of the most decorated full-backs of his era. Notably, he competed in 273 matches for Manchester United in the Premier League from 2005 to 2014 and played 81 games for the French national team between 2004 and 2017. During his illustrious career, Evra famously clashed with iconic striker Luis Suárez, 38, and reignited their rivalry by challenging Suárez to face him in the PFL cage.
“I’ll pay out of pocket,” Evra boldly stated on social media. “He can even bite me.”
The upcoming PFL Europe event in Paris on May 23 is anticipated to be headlined by a lightweight showdown featuring Mansour Barnaoui and Archie Colgan.